Maxi Dresses and Quilted Bags

Continuing the feeling of being so behind with blogging, two more maxi dress outfits I wore before Christmas! I actually ended up wearing these both on the same day - one during the day for my local ABA Christmas party, and the other in the evening for my office Christmas party.

What I wore:

Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Necklace: floral lei with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces, gifted frangipani necklace, and For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: NineWest "Quicken" wedges in natural
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap (same in blue)

Why I wore it:

As you can tell, my office Christmas party had a theme, ha! I'd been looking forward to the party this year. Last December I was on maternity leave, and although my boss invited me to the Christmas party it was when I was in hospital with Baby Boy so I had to turn it down.

It was a bittersweet night. It was wonderful catching up with colleagues outside of work, especially those that have moved teams while was on leave and I no longer get to work closely with. I loved getting to have a good chat again! However it was so sad too as inevitably discussion turned to last year's party, which I missed because of the hospital stay. Made me really miss my boys, and I couldn't wait to get home to them.
There was one funny moment where a colleague said I should have come along to the party last year anyway, and I had to explain that as I was Baby Boy's food source (breastfeeding) I couldn't leave him. While this beautiful pink maxi dress is a nursing dress, we don't need that feature now. Worked perfectly with the floral lei to tie in with the party theme, and I even wore my frangipani necklace (and a few other ones).

This vintage Chanel bag is one of my treasured pieces, and the cross body strap came in handy to allow me to hold food and drinks. I even wore wedges for a bit of extra height (although I regretted it a little when I got home, so used to flats now!).


Last worn: MEV pink maxi dress, gold glitter belt, nude wedges, vintage Chanel bag.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress worn 30 ways, nude wedges and lace dress, vintage Chanel bag and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: MEV pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, vintage Chanel bag in second trimester.

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More Quilted Handbags:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!) and Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore during the day - we had our local Australian Breastfeeding Association Christmas party, where we play a sneaky secret santa. Everyone brings a gift under $10, we all draw a number, then the person with number 1 unwraps a gift. The next person can pick another gift to unwrap, or steal the first one. Lots of people involved their toddlers and asked their opinion so they got in on the game too, so much fun. Toddler T had a great time! We enjoyed making the brownies with the kit we won too.

As expected though, all the time with toddlers and yummy morning tea and presents everywhere, my dress looked a little worse for wear so I was glad I'd planned a different dress to wear in the evening!

This was the perfect Christmas party outfit though, dressy but casual at the same time. Maxi dresses work for so many dress codes! Last year I went in shorts and tee, anything goes really. I did feel a little over dressed for my afternoon dentist appointment, with the embellished dress and bag strap, but my dentist ended up complimenting me on it so at least it made her smile! :)


Last worn: embellished maxi dress, black Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag.

Other ways to wear: embellished maxi dress with scarf as a belt, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap and printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: embellished maxi dress at 39 weeks, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi dresses are a great option for a busy mum - they are grab and go outfits! You can accessorise them with layers of delicate necklaces, or stick with a practical teething necklace for time with toddlers. Quilted bags look great with them, and a cross body option allows you to go hands free.  Maxi dresses work for many different dress codes as they can be as formal or casual as you want. Nice to wear in the summer heat too.


Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Lizzie in Lace, Friday Faves, Shoe & Tell, Modest Monday.

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30 Wears: Pink Maxi Dress From Mothers En Vogue (Maternity/Nursing Dress)

Happy New Year!

The 30 wears series will continue in 2018, as I had so much fun doing it last year. Each month I'll show you 30 ways I've worn one of the pieces from my wardrobe in an effort to wear more of what I already own, and enjoy what I have instead of constantly buying more.

Kicking off this year's posts with a favourite, my 'Havana' pink maternity/nursing maxi dress from Mothers en Vogue. I'm surprised it's taken me so long to hit 30 wears with this piece, if you've been a regular reader you'll know I wear it often. Through 2 pregnancies and afterwards it always makes me feel great. It's one of the pieces heavily featured in my pregnancy style book too! One of those maternity pieces I'm keeping in my wardrobe, even though my pregnancy days are behind me.

#30 Wears: Pink Mothers En Vogue Empire Waist Maxi Dress

It's tricky to calculate cost per wear on this dress as I received it courtesy of Zibibo back in February 2014. It's nearly 3 years old. 'Courtesy of 'means I didn't have to pay anything for it, although as I said when I got it, it made me rethink my normal budget for a maternity piece as it was certainly worth the $129.90 retail price. 30 wears in almost 3 years means wearing it about once a month on average, which is impressive for such a statement piece and given how many dresses I have already.

All dresses that come into my wardrobe are judged against this dress. If they don't make me feel as good as this dress does, they don't stay! To have a piece that works for pregnancy and breastfeeding, for casual through to more formal events, is such a lifesaver when you're having the 'don't know what to wear' panic before an event.

Pink Dress and Gold Belt

This gold belt is a very common accessory! The gold glitter belt works perfectly with the bright pink of my maxi dress, and you'll see it pop up many times in the photos below. Belted over a baby belly, or even just belted over my left over mum-tum, a belt is a frequent go-to with this dress.

PInk Dress Unbelted

The best thing about a maxi dress is that it's an instant outfit. While I do like belting this maxi dress, sometimes you just want the simplicity of a maxi dress and not worrying about accessorising or belting it. As the empire waist on this maxi dress is elasticated, the belt is more for show than function anyway.

Scarf as a Belt

When I do want to belt this pink maxi dress but I want something other than the go-to gold belt option above, I try to mix things up a little with this Louis Vuitton bandeau scarf worn as a belt. I love how the colours in the scarf compliment the pink dress, it's got pinks and purples and orange in the print.

Pink Dress and ColourFul Bags

A bright pink maxi dress sounds pretty in your face, and when I ordered this I considered the grey one instead as I wasn't sure I could pull off so much pink. Every time I wear it though I'm so grateful I went with the colourful option. It's just so cheerful with all that colour. You don't need to stick with neutral accessories when wearing a bright dress. I like pairing the bright pink dress with colourful bags! Blue, purple or yellow, a colourful bag works nicely. As you can see I particularly love the pink and purple colour combination.

Pink Dress and Denim Jacket

I like this combo a lot, as you can see by my wearing it 4 times! The outfit with the printed snood is easily my favourite of all of these ones though. It was the first time I wore this dress without a baby bump, and I found it perfect for those early postpartum days. In spring or autumn a denim jacket is a great layer with a maxi dress, and you can add a printed scarf to keep you cosy if it's really cold.

Pink Dress and Layers

It's not just denim jackets that make good layers with maxi dresses! I like to wear cardigans with my maxi dresses, and for something different, a kimono. You can even try belting the layer over the top of the dress too, as I've done in two of the photos above.

Pink Dress in Pregnancy

This Mothers En Vogue dress is a combo breastfeeding and pregnancy one, and it does both those things so well. With a nice bit of stretch, it easily covered a growing baby bump, even right through to the final days of pregnancy. It was nice to have something pretty I could pull on and feel good about in, no matter the size of the growing belly!

Pink Dress and Special Events

Pregnant or not, this beautiful dress has become my default for special events. Christmas day, birthday parties, date nights. I think everyone needs that one staple piece in their wardrobe they can pull on for an event that makes them feel special. For me, this pink dress is it. I love how it turned out to be the last thing I photographed for the blog before giving birth to baby boy, it's such a cherished piece and that makes it even more so.

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Pink Maternity Maxi Dresses Under $50:

Some of these are nursing ones too!

Non-maternity Pink Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and the chance to see the baby bumps across two pregnancies. This dress really has been worn to so many things, and accommodated all of the pregnancy and breastfeeding related body changes so well 😂 Want more outfit inspiration? Browse through all the times I've worn this MEV dress on the blog.

2017: A year of 30 wears posts

• 30 ways to wear a black maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear red Balenciaga velo bag
• 30 ways to wear gladiator sandals
• 30 different ways to wear striped maxi skirt
• 30 different ways to wear skinny jeans
• 30 ways to wear a grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag
• 30 ways to wear a printed leather jacket
• 30 ways to wear black ankle boots in multiple seasons
• 30 ways to wear mustard yellow Rebecca Minkoff bag
• 30 ways to wear a classic denim jacket
• 30 ways to wear white and navy stripe maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear a floral kimono

Linking up with On Mondays We Link Up, Turning Heads, Trend Spin, The Style File, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Fashion Frenzy, Oh Hey Girl, Style on the Daily, Fashion Frenzy, Fun Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion, Modest Monday.

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Maxi Dresses and Printed Kimonos with Rebecca Minkoff Bags

I love maxi dresses and I love kimonos, so it just makes sense to wear them together! I thought that these printed kimonos would be a nice touch with the plain maxi dresses, to add a little more fun to my outfits.

What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

This is one of my most worn kimonos, but it's still not at 30 wears yet, this is only it's 26th wear! I'm hopeful I'll hit 30 wears on it by the end of the year, so you'll probably see it being worn a lot more often, just like I did with my purple cardigan when I was so close to 30 wears with it. Nice and comfortable outfit for a busy morning, taking Baby Boy for his weigh in session and getting my tax done and picking up groceries.

The only downside to this outfit was that it was a very windy day. I had so many issues trying to get a good photo, as the kimono kept getting caught in the wind!

Windy #dressOfTheDay #OOTD! 😂 Really hard getting a pic this morning from any direction! 🌬https://t.co/GFn08LTwKV #liketkit #LTKItBag pic.twitter.com/sXM6Mo3jNm

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 27, 2017

Last worn: Somedays Lovin' kimono, black maxi dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: Somedays Lovin' kimono and denim shorts, black maxi dress and denim jacket, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed kimono and maternity tank, maxi dress in third trimester, mini MAC in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Edited floral and bird print kimono

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pink, 43% off!)

Why I wore it:

I grabbed this maxi dress, my favourite, out of my wardrobe to try break a bit of an outfit slump I was in after our Sydney trip. It always makes me feel good when I wear it.

In an effort to try change this up a little, I decided to try belting a kimono over it. I've belted things over it in pregnancy before so I figured I'd try the look without the bump. While I liked this in the mirror, I think it looks a little off in the photo as the belt slipped down. Was a nice and colourful, comfortable outfit for playgroup though. I really liked the colours with the pink dress, purple bag and blue kimono together.

Last worn: navy printed kimono, gold glitter belt, pink maternity maxi dress, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote bag.

Other ways to wear: navy printed kimono and shorts, gold glitter belt and little black dress, pink maxi dress for a first birthday party, studded sandals and black shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote bag and leopard print jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: belted dress in second trimester, pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, studded sandals and maternity shorts, mini MAB tote in third trimester.

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Printed Kimonos Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A printed kimono is a great layer with a plain maxi dress. It's perfect for spring or autumn, as kimonos are so lightweight. It's a nice way to add some extra colour or print to your outfit, and you can belt it to try something a little different too.



Linking up with Friday Favourites, Shoe and Tell, Mix It Monday.

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Maxi Dresses in Spring and Steam Train Sunday

Maxi dresses are such an easy outfit - extremely comfortable, very little thought required, but they still look like you put some effort into what you're wearing.

After having lost my voice a few weeks back and feeling a bit under the weather, but with a busy weekend ahead, I pulled out more maxi dresses. I really wanted to stay in bed in my pyjamas, but this was the next best thing!

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs pearl, howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

After a tough day the day before which involved only being able to whisper despite having two energetic and mischievous toddlers, I contemplated cancelling our plans on Saturday. With a first birthday party and leaving party to attend though I knew I couldn't let the boys miss out. Knowing I wasn't contagious, it didn't feel right not letting the boys spend time with their friends. It was quite a sad farewell, one of my friends is moving away and our children have grown up together, her two girls are similar ages to my two boys.

I like maxi dresses and denim jackets together, especially for spring, so I repeated the outfit formula again. The colorful silicone teething necklace broke up the monochrome outfit a bit and was just enough of a pop with the black maxi dress and silver bag and ballet flats.


Last worn: denim jacket, black maxi dress, bow detail flats, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket worn 30 ways, black maxi dress and kimono, bow detail flats and wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket and third trimester bump, maxi dress in second trimester, mini MAC in third trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff Metallic Mini MAC Bags:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: blue Coach twilly scarf
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

I was upset to be feeling unwell on this day as we had been looking forward to it for months! Toddler T loves trains but has never actually been on one. We decided to take him along to Steam Train Sunday as a surprise. I've included a little video below. The train does a loop around the city for about an hour, and he loved every bit of it!

We got there early to the station to watch the train come in and he was so excited, especially when we said he could go for a ride on it. It's definitely worth it if you're in Brisbane! You get to walk around the train carriage, between the carriages, and to talk to some of the staff who can tell you more about the train and the history. Fun way to spend a morning, and toddler T spent quite a few days afterwards telling everyone about his trip!





Again I wanted something easy, but also to get a little dressed up as it was a big family day out. This trusty pink maxi dress was a good solution. I tend to wear it pretty similarly every time now, so I tried something a little different with the blue Coach silk scarf as a belt instead of my usual Louis Vuitton bandeau. While I liked the colour combination of this, I did find this scarf slid around a lot more than my bandeau and I don't think I'll pair these pieces together again.

One thing to note with steam train Sunday is the soot. We were nearer the middle of the train and had the window open all the time. With trips out onto the walkway between the carriages as well, we did get a little sooty. Nothing a quick bath couldn't clear up afterwards though.


Last worn: grey cardigan, Coach silk scarf, Mothers En Vogue maxi dress, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: grey cardigan and skinny jeans, Coach silk scarf tied on a bag, Mothers En Vogue maxi dress for dinner with friends, black ballet flats and wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: maxi dress at 39 weeks, black ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, mini MAC disguising an early second trimester bump.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi dresses are instant outfits. If it's a little cooler, add a simple layer like a denim jacket or a neutral cardigan. While it takes very little effort, a maxi dress looks pulled together enough for a party and casual enough for a trip on the train.



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Maxi Dresses, Denim Jacket and Silver Mini MAC

Father's day weekend celebrations at the start of September meant the chance to dress up a little with my favourite maxi dresses. Maxi dress and denim jacket is a frequently worn outfit combo for both spring and autumn for me.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Dress: Gypsy 05 orange ombre maxi dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Wore this for to celebrate Father's day with the family and then the in-laws in the afternoon. I got lucky and even though we ate out for lunch we had takeaway for dinner. It was nice not to have to cook anything other than breakfast all day!

This dress is so beautiful, always gets a lot of love when I wear it. Pleased to have it in my wardrobe after my bestie tired of it and gave it to me. I liked how well the feather pendant matched the peach of the dress, and the silver mini MAC bag was a good neutral too.

I wore silver ballet flats with this too but they are a little tricky to see as the breeze kept catching the hem of the dress.


Last worn: denim jacket, ombre Gypsy 05 maxi dress, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and purple jeans, ombre Gypsy 05 maxi dress and lace kimono, silver ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC and leopard print jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket and black dress, ballet flats and maternity wrap dress, mini MAC and maternity tanks in third trimester.

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Bright Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Scarf: Louis Vuitton "comete" bandeau scarf (worn as belt)
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

I wore this the day before as we had an early Father's Day brunch with my dad and family. We ended up sitting outside at the restaurant and it was such lovely weather I really didn't need my denim jacket on. A good start to spring.

You'll probably already know that this maxi dress is my favourite given how much I wear it! One of those treasured maternity pieces that works perfectly for breastfeeding too and so pretty that I continue to wear it even though those days are behind me. Nothing new here with this wearing! It's been worn many times with this denim jacket, and the colourful Louis Vuitton bandeau scarf as a belt is a favourite go-to outfit combination.

Just like the outfit above I wore the metallic silver mini MAC bag with this, silver was a good neutral with the colourful dress.

The good thing about maxi dresses is that they work for so many occasions - later that afternoon we had to go grocery shopping, no need to change into a different outfit!


Last worn: denim jacket (above), pink maxi dress, Louis Vuitton bandeau, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and shirt dress, maxi dress for a first birthday party, Louis Vuitton bandeau as a hairband, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in the office, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC and monochrome jeans outfits.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket and hidden second trimester bump, pink maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant, Louis Vuitton bandeau over a second trimester bump, ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, mini MAC and third trimester maternity denim.

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Denim Jackets Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi dresses are perfect for summer, but it's so easy to wear them on a warm spring or autumn day by simply adding a denim jacket. A denim jacket is a classic outfit topper which looks good with all styles of dresses, definitely a must have piece for spring.


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Maxi Dresses in Winter (And How To Get Cheap Leather Jackets)

First, sharing the link to a recent article I was featured in about I how I use me-time for blogging. If you've ever wondered how I juggle blogging and two toddlers, it's a good read!

Just like Friday's post, today I'm wearing more summer pieces in winter. This time around it's my maxi dresses. I like to wear my maxi dresses and skirts year-round. Helped by Brisbane's snow-less winter and a few cosy layers.

What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket

Dress:  Jeanswest Gigi printed maxi dress in shorter length (C/O)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH
Nail Polish: OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous

Why I wore it:

Wore this for my first girls night out in a very, very long time! A friend was celebrating her birthday at a rooftop bar so I went for a few hours to celebrate with her. It was nice getting all dressed up again - this dress has been rarely worn since I got it while pregnant as it's not breastfeeding friendly at all. It was my first choice for a night out, as it's so pretty and definitely under-worn!

I was going to wear ankle boots with this but there were a lot of dress code restrictions at the bar...so I wore flats to be on the safe side. Ankle boots would have been warmer though, especially when it rained a little. I really liked the black printed leather jacket with the printed maxi dress, the print on the jacket is subtle enough that it doesn't clash with the dress.

I bought this leather jacket 4 years ago, in the ASOS sale reduced from $385 to $150. It's just passed 30 wears. While it's winter now in Australia it's summer in the UK so if you're looking for a leather jacket massively reduced, check out the ASOS sale! You can get pieces like this awesome studded leather jacket reduced from $245 to $101, or this plain black one which is now $138.50 instead of $443.

I nearly wore my black vintage Chanel bag, but as I was completely kid-free for the evening I wanted to wear the least kid-friendly bag I own, which would be this handheld Balenciaga envelope clutch.  I'd usually get to enjoy my clutches over Christmas but as baby boy was in hospital I spent all the time by his bedside instead of going to the usual parties and events. It was nice to give this a wear again. It was crazy how few things I needed for the night out, and how light the clutch was to hold. Such a difference from the overstuffed baby bag I often have in addition to my handbags each day. I don't think the yellow really goes so well with the print on the dress, but it's such a pretty clutch I wanted to wear it as who knows when my next chance will be! 😂


Last worn: printed leather jacket, printed halterneck maxi dress, black ballet flats, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket and jeans, printed halterneck maxi dress in spring, black ballet flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: maxi dress in second trimester, clutch in the third trimester.

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More Leather Jackets Under $150:

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What I wore:

Jacket:  Jeanswest Peggie kimono cardigan in purple mulberry marle

Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Nails: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

More pink and purple! I've worn this dress and belt together so many times, it's a frequent go-to for me. I really like pink and purple together too, although it's the first time I've worn the cardigan and dress together.

This is what I wore for Toddler T's third birthday party - no shoes as I stayed home all day and sent hubby out for the last minute things that morning. Picked this dress to wear as I love wearing a maxi dress for a birthday party - easy and quick to throw on while setting up last minute things, and stylish and simple for spending the day running around with two toddlers. Even wore this a couple of months ago for Baby Boy's first birthday! Just crazy to realise Toddler T is 3 now!

I was pretty tired after staying up until 1.30am putting the finishing touches to Toddler T's train cake, but it was worth it in the end seeing his excitement! Next year I might just stick with a simple round cake though...


Last worn: purple cocoon cardigan, gold glitter belt, pink nursing maxi dress.

Other ways to wear: purple cocoon cardigan and graphic tee, gold glitter belt and Aztec print dress, pink nursing maxi dress and sequin scarf for another birthday party.

Perfect for pregnancy: cocoon cardigan in second trimester, same dress and gold belt over a baby bump, maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant.

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More purple cardigans under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

You don't need to give up your maxi dresses when summer ends! Have a look at the winter layers you have in your wardrobe - a cosy cardigan or a leather jacket can be a simple addition to a dress and make it warm enough for a mild winter day. Leather jackets can be expensive, but if you buy at the end of season sales or take advantage of the opposite seasons when shopping internationally, you can find one that fits your budget.

If you have colder winter weather, wear ankle boots and even leggings underneath your dress, with a nice cosy blanket scarf too. When spring arrives you can continue to wear your dress with a light layer like a cardigan. You really can wear most dresses year-round!


Linking up with On Mondays We Link Up, On Trend, Turning Heads, Trend Spin, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Oh Hey Girl, Spotlight Weekly, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, Passion for Fashion, Friday Faves, Mix It Monday.

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